As the years have gone by more people have smartphones and connect to social media. It’s great to connect to others and get new information immediately. BUT – there have also been articles and conversations on social media causing social anxiety and mental health distress. Here are some of my perspectives about that;

Sometimes life gets tough and tiring. It’s easier to look at our phones and check on different social media apps rather than being active or doing meaningful work.

Sometimes spending too much time on social media creates procrastination and self frustration for being “‘lazy” rather than being productive. It can be a source of distraction and avoidance rather than facing life itself.

Feelings of anxiety and depression come from feelings of unworthiness and inadequacy. Seeing other people’s posts of how great their life is may have a negative effect because you start comparing yourself to how some people are prettier, more successful, or have an interesting life. It can become painful and feel super lonely. Life has its up and down moments. It’s really unrealistic to have a perfect and happy life all the time. Sometimes you do need your alone time or walk away from relationships that are toxic and negatively impact your mental health.

Have you walked by a group of people and looked around and noticed that everyone is staring at their phones?. There are many reasons for staring at phones, checking emails, texting, playing games, checking facebook, instagram, linkedin, twitter, and tic tok. I find it intriguing that when groups of people or family are together, they are often too busy spending their time on their phone to have eye contact and casual conversations. It is so important to connect with others in real life, but social media is a distraction and pulls your attention away from what is really going on at the moment.

From family and friends to complete strangers there can be multiple comments on a post which are mean or hurtful and may cause fighting with others. These situations can create frustration, anger, anxiety, and depression. Sometimes the conversations can become too political or even fights about really simple things can occur. During the pandemic, there has been a lot of anger in regards to the isolation and scared feelings of COVID-19.

Part of working on social anxiety is building the confidence to be around others. Usually with social anxiety people think they are dumb, judged, or think “I am werid.” However, being on social media creates a different avenue to connect, which limits actual real life connection. When you challenge yourself into new social situations, it becomes easier over time. Usually people with social anxiety do want to connect to others and have a good network of friends. They may not want big groups of friends but it’s usually the quality of relationships that matter most.

People tend to post their best self on social media and boast great achievements in life. Sometimes looking at how great other people’s lives are or the wonderful things they accomplished can make you feel like crap. It causes feelings that you are behind or wondering why you can’t be normal. Nobody is perfect at everything right away. Everything takes time and it’s the process that matters, not the results.

Reading and watching all the bad things in the world creates fear and a sense of hopelessness. Usually bad news draws more attention. Sometimes I wonder if the world is as bad as it seems or is it a small part that is overly focused on. This is something I wondered about with all the Asian Hate acts that happened recently. Taking a break or detoxing from social media may be necessary to salvage your own mental health

Social media has its benefits too. It’s fun to look at, connect with friends and family who live close and live far. It’s a great tool to find new information and stay updated. Something too good can have its downfalls too. I, too, have been guilty of some of the above but I try to make real social connections and not spend all my time on social media.

The biggest thing is to be aware of your own mental health and make sure you take time to take care of yourself. It doesn’t mean completely going off the grid and leaving the social media world completely – it’s knowing when to set limits and balance in your life. It is so important to connect in real life rather than through social media.

If you have questions about your anxiety and need some help to create some balance in your life, call (949) 771-4461, Jane Pearl Lee Counseling Anxiety Therapist in Orange County for a free 15-minute consultation.

If you are looking for an anxiety therapist in Orange County, you can read more about how I can help on my website. My specialties include career driven professionals, caregiver stress, Asian American psychology, anxious teens, and social anxiety.